germophobe

noun germ·o·phobe \ ˈjər-mə-ˌfōb \

variants: or less commonly germaphobe

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of germophobe

: a person who has an abnormal fear of germs

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germophobic

play \ˌjər-mə-ˈfō-bik\ or less commonly germaphobic adjective

Recent Examples of germophobe from the Web

Thrill seekers or germophobes, there is a water park for everyone in Central Indiana.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "Here's what you need to know to prevent drownings," 13 June 2018
Anchor Michael Che dismissed Trump’s claim of being a germophobe by citing the president’s relations with hookers.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'SNL': Robert De Niro channels Robert Mueller," 15 Apr. 2018
Thompson as Alex’s best friend Marty exudes affability, Washington’s Gloria is bold and beautiful and Bertaux makes a lanky, likeable germophobe.

— patti restivo, Howard County Times, "You've got to 'move it, move it' to Red Branch," 22 Dec. 2017
Say hello to Sheldon Cooper 9.0 of CBS spinoff Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory origin story that tracks genius Sheldon as a young germophobe, also 9, who's entering high school in east Texas in 1989.

— bill keveney, USA TODAY, "'Young Sheldon' kids around with boy version of 'Big Bang Theory' genius," 19 Sep. 2017
The film is set in the mid-eighties, and earlier scenes in the movie had invoked AIDS and the fear of contagion (the germophobe kid had heard of a lady who got AIDS from just touching a pole).

— josephine livingstone, New Republic, "Stephen King’s It is a Call for Solidarity Among the Traumatized," 12 Sep. 2017
Encased in a squeeze tube printed with its signature Neutraface 2.0 font, its old-timey-apothecary feel aesthetically conceals the neuroticism of a germophobe with good design.

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "The Fanciest Hand Sanitizer in the World," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'germophobe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.